Sanders, Dent, Faulk Among Seven Selected For Hall Of Fame

Deion Sanders and Richard Dent led a class of seven voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Joining the two superstar defenders were: Shannon Sharpe, Marshall Faulk, Ed Sabol (NFL Films founder), Les Richter and Chris Hanburger.

“I’m excited. These guys — are you kidding me? It’s hard to describe,” Sanders said. “To be held up in high regard, to this standard … I am honored.”

“Neon Deion” let his personality and sense of humor shine like he always did, and still does, while talking about Faulk and Sharpe.

“Man, this is real,” he said, “and I got to see Marshall Faulk and Shannon Sharpe cry.”

As for Dent, the Super Bowl XX MVP for arguably the best team ever, the ’85 Chicago Bears, he put some perspective on his selection into Canton.

“It was a long time coming, I am very happy,” Dent said. “If you can do your thing the way [Walter Payton] did his, you can be in the Hall of Fame. I am so thankful for this.”

The finalists who did not get in were Cris Carter, Jerome Bettis, Curtis Martin, Dermontti Dawson, Cortez Kennedy, Andre Reed and Willie Roaf.

Induction ceremonies are Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio.

Interesting tidbit: Marshall Faulk is one of four players to win the AP’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and MVP Awards. All four — Faulk, Barry Sanders, Marcus Allen and Earl Campbell — are now Hall of Famers.